Warrendale Mail Processing Facility Returning To Normal After Mercury Spill
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WARRENDALE (KDKA) -- The Warrendale Postal Network Distribution Center is back up and running after it was shut down for two weeks due to a mercury spill.
It was shut down on Sunday, March 24.
But, this morning, signs were posted all over the facility welcoming employees back to work.
Welcome home signs are hanging up around the @USPS Warrendale Network Distribution Center, welcoming employees back to work after it was shut down due to a mercury spill for about two weeks. pic.twitter.com/EagW27vpz3
— Amy Wadas (@AmyWadas) April 8, 2019
KDKA is learning more about what happened inside the postal facility in Warrendale on March 24. The U.S. Postal Service temporarily stopped daily mail processing operations after it received an improperly mailed package containing mercury. The package leaked, so the USPS contacted environmental specialists to contain the spill.
Employees shoes were taken at the time to prevent them from tracking the mercury home, booties were provided and mail processing was stopped so the element wouldn't leave the facility.
Specially-trained and certified contractors were called in to clean up the mess.
Due to the spill, many customers complained that they weren't getting packages when they were supposed to. The center's Post Office box operations resumed on Saturday, and retail and window operations resume Monday.
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In a release, the USPS said, "We apologize to customers who may have experienced temporary service issues and assure them that we continue to make progress every day toward restoring normal operations. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our customers, suppliers, and mailing partners."
The USPS says remediation efforts have been completed and the facility is in compliance with environmental regulations.